A simple Philippine Sundang

ferguson

ferguson

Joined
Feb 21, 2001
Messages
4,238
Nothing fancy, just a good solid sundang. The blade is thinner than most I've handled. It's .150" (3.8mm) at the midpoint of the blade. Good and solid though. Looks to have been rehilted at some time. Baca baca (blade clamp)is not original. Separate gangya (the guard). Enjoy.
Thanks for looking!

Steve Ferguson

kris2-overall.jpg


kris2-gangya.jpg


kris2-blade.jpg
 
very nice. You and Marsh and others show me things beyond my reach and culture. Good to see.


munk
 
Beautiful... I wonder if its good steel... Like wootz or something...

Maybe that was a stupid thought... :o
 
Not stupid at all. Philippine smiths didn't have wootz, but they made some beautiful pattern welded blades. This one is simple carbon steel, hardened on the edges. I etched it with ferric chloride, thus the gray edges where the high carbon steel is hardened. It may even have inserted edges of higher carbon steel than the center.

Steve
 
HI Ferguson,

What can I say? My favorite Kris is the Mindanao Sundang.

This definitely has been rehilted, because completely traditional Sundangs have what is

called a horsehoof pommel. I'll tell ya what, though- that is beautiful weavework on the

handle. Don't know if you're familiar with the horsehoof pommel, but it's ridiculiously

functional to literally "pommel" an aggressor with a surprise butt to the face!

What's interesting is the shape of the handle... and the choice of wood.

May I ask what species of wood that is?

Thanks for sharing it with us sir!
 
Hi Steve,

Simple but fierce looking keris sundang!! Reminds me of "The Swish of the Kris".
 
408serrada said:
HI Ferguson,

What can I say? My favorite Kris is the Mindanao Sundang.

This definitely has been rehilted, because completely traditional Sundangs have what is

called a horsehoof pommel. I'll tell ya what, though- that is beautiful weavework on the

handle. Don't know if you're familiar with the horsehoof pommel, but it's ridiculiously

functional to literally "pommel" an aggressor with a surprise butt to the face!

What's interesting is the shape of the handle... and the choice of wood.

May I ask what species of wood that is?

Thanks for sharing it with us sir!
Click to expand...

Thanks 408 and Arya,
Two of my kris have this type pommel, 3 have the horsehoof, and one fairly old one has a horn handle of a type I've not seen before. I'm not as much a student of the variations as I should be, but the handle styles vary by time and location. I suspect that the wood is Banati, but I'm not sure. I didn't refinish it completely as it would take away from the appeal, but it was completely black with old shellac and dirt. I cleaned it with denatured alcohol and 0000 steel wool and waxed it. Also wicked some superglue into the cracks to stabilize them.
Steve
 
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